Ore-flotation apparatus.



J. M. GALLOW.

ORE FLOTATION APPARATUS.

APPLIGATION FILED JUNE 15, 1914.

1,124,856. Patented Jan.12, 1915.

barman sraras Para JOHN M. CALLOW, OF SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, ASSIGNOR TO METALS RECOVERY COMPANY, OF AUGUSTA, MAINE, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

ORE-FLOTATION APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 15, 1914. Serial No. 845,307.

' To all whom it may concern.

aggregation or mass of fine soap bubbles Be it known that I, JOHN M. CALLow, a

subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Salt Lake City, in the county of Salt Lake and State of Utah, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ore- Flotation Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a flotation apparatus, designed for the concentration of metallic ores by separating, the metallic particles from the barren or-rocky constituents thereof, and the invention consists of the parts and the constructions,- arrangements and combinations of parts which I will hereinafter describe andclaim.

In the accompanying drawing forming part of-this spec1fication: Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of a flotation apparatus embodying my invention.

' Figs. 2, 3 and- 4 are modifications of porousmediums hereinafter referred to. i

The apparatus shown in the present case is specifically related to the art commonly known as buoyant or flotation processes and which is distinct from the usual gravity concentration processes in which the parti cles are separated by their differences in weight or specific gravity, in that in the flotation process a certain percentage of oil, or of two dissimllar 011s, or an 011 and acid, or

an oil and an alkali, or some substance having the property of producing a suitable froth with the ore, is mixed with finely ground ore pulp and water and the mixture is then subjected to a violent agitation with the result that large volumes of air are beaten into, impregnated with, or entrained by the pulp for the purpose of producing a cam or sud having the appearance of an which when collected and the froth discharged or broken'down, by natural settlement, but suction or vacuum, or by the addition ofcpld'water, or other means, displaces the mineral particles that have been caught and carried by the bubbles,

In another application filed by me on the 13th day of December 1913, Serial Number I 806,361, I have shown, described and claimed the employment of a porous medium of some suitable character for admitting a gaseous fluid under pressure into the body of pulp in innumerable fine streams or jets for the purpose of both aerating and agitating the pulp,

rous body.

The resent invention relates to a specific means or operating over or in proximity to j the surface-of the ,porousmedium for keeping the coarser sands or heavier particlesof the pulp in motion or suspension, to thereby prevent these particles settling onfthe surface of the porous medium and obstructing or blanketing the'air outlets thereof.

In the accompanying drawings, A, repre sents-a tank of any suitable capacity, con- Patented Jan. 12, 1915. a

in conjunction therewith a struction and design adapted to contain crushed ore and water and a frothable agent,-

said tank having its'upper portion formed or provided with an edge or lip, A, for the? 1 overflow of the froth or foam generated in the tank and rising to the surface thereof,-as I will hereinafter explain. At' one side, the tank is provided with double walls, 6, b, separated'from each other to form an intervening space which may be extended at the bottom to'form a chamber, 0, into which tailings or coarser particlesof the ore will settle or may be delivered and from which they may be discharged through a suitable valve-controlled outlet, d.

Elevated a suitable distance above the bottom of the tank is a false floor or bottom, a, of some suitable porous material, suchfor sand, 2, between two restraining layers, 3, (Fig. 2), of screen cloth; or layers, 4, (Fig. 3), of fibrous material laid one above the other such, for instance, as cocoa matting; or certain kinds of porouswood, 5, (Fig. 4), such as basswood;'or in fact any porous material through which air can be forced in more or less irregular jets of infinite number and fineness, as explained more at length in .my aforesaid prior application and whlch porous material, whatever its nature, per-' mits the passage of gaseous fluid, but not the pulp and water, so that said fluid may enter instance as porous brick, 'or' a layer of fine porous medium,

rakes, or hoes,

and agitate and aerate the same without the aid of the mechanical heaters and stirrers, it being understood that between the bottom of this porous medium, and the bottom of the tank there is provided an air chamber, f, into which air, gas or'vapor may be admitted under pressure from any suitable source. The air chamber may be a single continuous one extending substantially throughout the length of the porous floor or false bottom, or this chamber may, if desired, be divided into compartments by suitable partitions, g, as shown by dotted lines, in which latter case, a branch of the air pipe, B, will lead to each of the compartments, as will be readily understood.

The particular means employed in the present instance for maintaining the coarser particles of pulp in suspension to prevent the blanketing of the pores or outlets of the is in the nature of an oscillating or reciprocating member adapted to operate with a sweeping motion over or in proximity to the upper surface of the porous medium. While various means may be employed for accomplishing the desired object, I have shown' for illustrative purposes, a suitable beam or beams, 10, arranged sub stantially horizontal and provided with bars, 11,.on their lower surfaces and which operate in the manner of paddles or scrapers adapted to stir up the lower body of the pulp and thereby keep the sands and coarser particles of the ore in motion and into the body of the pulp suspension and to prevent the clogging of tially' a pulp and have the that the jets of gaseous the pores of the porous me ium by these coarser particles settling upon the upper surface thereof. lihe bars,

rakes or hoes, or whatever description, to advance by substanraking action the coarse particles toward a tailings chamber, 12, at one side of the tank and into which coarser particles are delivered through a suitable opening, 13, formed beneath the inner wall, 14:, of the tank. I

From the foregoing, it will be understood fluid are delivered medium into the body of function of producing a more or less violent agitation and ebullition of the pulp, and that this causes a froth or foam to generate and to finally rise and form on the surface of the pulp, from which it'is discharged at the .overflow edge, into a suitable launder or receptacle, 15, placed to receive it. During this operation the coarser sands tend to settle in the lower ortion of the tank and upon the upper sur ace of the porous medium, but this tendency. is countertheir equivalent, of also have a tendency through the porous acted and. in fact, entirely removed by the I their settlin chamberthese ber, 0,

maaeae Suitable mechanism is employed for.

properly suspending the beam or beams in the tank and for giving the beams a back and forth or reciprocating movement, during the time that the gaseous fluid is being admitted into the through the porous medium. A simple form of operating mechanism is illustrated, but this may be varied within reasonable limits without departing from the spirit of the present invention. shown includes suitable links, 16, which have their lower ends pivotally connected to the beams and their upper ends pivotally mounted in suitable hangers, 17, supported on the tank, or otherwise, one of the hangers serving as an arm of a bell-crank pivoted at its angle, 18, and having a horizontal arm, 19, which is pivotally connected to a rod, 20, extending from the strap, 21, of a suitable eccentric'22, ed on a driving shaft, 23, to which power may be applied in any suitable manner. When the said shaft is operated =its eccentric imparts motion to the aforesaid bell-crank with the result. that the beams carrying the rakes or hoes, are oscillated or'reciprocated substantially horizontally in proximity to the upper surface of the porous medium,

thus maintaining the coarser particles of ore in suspension, or motion, to prevent on the surface of said medium and blanketing the pores thereof.

In order that a un'form discharge of froth may be maintained without regard to any variableness or irregularity in the feed of ore and water into the tank and which feed may be performed in any well known manner, I suspend or contents of the tank a float, 24, whose stem is connected to a lever, 25, pivotally connected at26, and having an intermediate portion pivotally connected to the vertical stem, 27, of a'valve, 28, which valve operates in the lower portion of the tailings chamand is designed to control the outlet, 03, thereof. From this description it will be understood that the float is actuated by the level of the fluid contents of the tank and that any tendency of the level to rise because of an excess of feed, will be responded to by the lifting of the valve stem, 27, and the raising of the valve, 28, from its seat which thus permits a portion of the tailings to discharge through the outlet, 0?. By this means I preserve the level of the fluid contents of the tank and the uniformity of the overflow of the froth or sud, even though there should be a variable feed of pulp into the tank.

Having thus described fluid contents of the tank lhe mechanism I appropriately mountmy invention what 1 submerge in the fluid 7 aias see I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is L An ore flotation apparatus having a pulp-containing tank and a porous body therein through which streams of a gaseous fluid under pressure are admitted into the solution from below, said porous body permitting the passage of the gaseous fluid but not pulp and water, and a reciprocable carrier mounted in the tank and having elements operating in proximity to the upper surface of said body for maintaining the coarser constituents of the solution in suspension to thereby prevent the blanketing of the outlets of said porous body.

2. A11 ore flotation apparatus having a pulp-containing tank and a porous body therein through which streams of gaseous fluid under pressure are delivered into the lower part of the solution, and a suspended, reciprocable carrier having elements .operating in proximity to the upper surface of the porous body for maintaining the coarser constituents of the solution in suspension to thereby prevent the blanketing of the outlets of said body.

3. An ore flotation apparatus having a pulp-containing tank and a porous body therein through which streams of gaseous fluid under pressure are delivered into the lower part of the solution, a carrier within the tank having stirring elements operating in proximity to the upper surface of the porous body for maintaining the coarser constituents of the solution in motion to thereby prevent the blanketing of the outlets of the porous body, means for suspending the carrier, and means for reciprocating said carrier, said tank having a chamber at one side communicating with its interior, and into which the coarser particles are received.

y In testimony whereof I afix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN M. CALLOW. Witnesses:

DAVID E. THOMAS, H. E. Donen. 

